James Van Der Beek's role on a comedy series seven years ago foretold his stint on Dancing With The Stars

James Van Der Beek has just been named as a contestant on the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars, and if the news feels vaguely familiar to some fans, there's a good reason why.

Seven years ago the actor played a version of himself doing the same thing on ABC comedy series Don't Trust The B... in Apt. 23.

In an amusing case of life imitating art, the 42-year-old Dawson's Creek alum played actor James Van Der Beek trying to revive his career and accepting a role on DWTS, and failing miserably.

Life imitating art: On Tuesday James Van Der Beek, 42, was named as a contestant on season 28 of Dancing With The Stars - and he's already had a practice run seven years ago

Stint: Van Der Beek played a version of himself on Don't Trust The B... In Apt. 23 and joined DWTS as a contestant in an effort to revive his career

The hilarious storyline showed Van Der Beek face-off against 1990s Superman hunk Dean Cain in the dancing contest but it all goes disastrously wrong as the star gets accidentally drunk and ends up crawling on the floor.

At the time Van Der Beek said he would not consider actually doing the dance competition in real life because of all the hard work involved.

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'It was a blast to film. I had to learn how to dance. It was really funny. I thought it would be a hoot if the fake me went on the fake Dancing With the Stars,' he told Parade about the plotline.

'I think it's more fun to do it this way. You can play it for laughs and not have to do all that work!' he added.

Disaster: The actor faces-off against 1990s Superman hunk Dean Cain during the contest but it all goes very wrong

'It was a blast to film. I had to learn how to dance. It was really funny. I thought it would be a hoot if the fake me went on the fake Dancing With the Stars,' the actor said at the time

Don't Trust The B* lasted for just two seasons from 2012 to 2013 but was a hit among its loyal fan base and achieved a solid 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Van Der Beek played a friend of Krysten Ritter's character Chloe who gets a new roommate, June (played by Dreama Walker), who has just moved to New York City to start her career.

The actor will be going up against and impressive list of stars joining this years contest.

Actress Christie Brinkley, former NBA player Lamar Odom, Bachelorette Hannah Brown and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's Karamo Brown were all named as the new contestants.

Change of heart: When he was on the comedy show Van Der Beek told Parade magazine he wouldn't do DWTS in real life: 'I think it's more fun to do it this way. You can play it for laughs and not have to do all that work!'

The Office's Kate Flannery and actor Kel Mitchell are also set to compete alongside notable athletes and actors.

Country music star Lauren Alaina will learn how to fox trot and jive as well as singer Ally Brooke, former NFL player Ray Lewis and Supremes singer Mary Wilson.

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer rounds out the cast.

The 28th season of Dancing With The Stars premieres September 16 on ABC.

The father of five is married to Kimberly Brook. They are pictured with their brood in a cute snap from a family vacation last month